Lintisite is a very rare silicate mineral typically found in hyperagpaitic pegmatites of the Khibiny and Lovozero massifs. Collectors usually search for its small, prismatic colorless to pale yellow crystals associated with other rare alkaline minerals in syenite complexes.

Hardness

5-6

Mohs

Luster

Vitreous on fractures, pearly on cleavages

Streak

White

Transparency

Transparent

mineralrareLabuntsovite Group family

Lintisite

Hardness: 5-6
Luster: Vitreous on fractures, pearly on cleavages
Streak: White
Transparency: Transparent

Is this lintisite?

5-step field check

Run through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.

1
Test the hardness
Try to scratch lintisite with a known reference. Lintisite sits at Mohs 5-6, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
2
Check the streak
Drag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: white.
3
Read the luster
Hold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous on fractures, pearly on cleavages.
4
Match the color range
Compare against the expected color range: colorless, light yellow.
5
Look at form & habit
Crystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: prismatic crystals.

Often confused with

Lintisite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.

mineral

Labuntsovite

Mohs 6

How to tell apart: Luster reads vitreous on fractures, pearly on cleavages on Lintisite and greasy on Labuntsovite.

Often found alongside lintisite

Minerals reported to co-occur with lintisite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.

All properties

Chemical formula: Na₃LiTi₂O₂(SiO₃)₄(H₂O)₂
Mohs hardness: 5-6
Density: 2.77 g/cm³
Colors: Colorless Light yellow
Streak: White
Luster: Vitreous on fractures, pearly on cleavages
Transparency: Transparent
Crystal system: Monoclinic
Crystal habit: Prismatic crystals
Cleavage: {100} and {010}, perfect
Rarity: Rare
Uses: Collector
Host rock: Coating and replacing lorenzenite in ultra-agpaitic syenite pegmatites in a differentiated alkalic massif (Lovozero massif, Russia)

Where rockhounds find lintisite

Classic worldwide localities

Mt. Alluaiv, Lovozero massif, Kola Peninsula, Russia
Mont Saint-Hilaire, Quebec, Canada

Field-hunting tip

Where it forms: Coating and replacing lorenzenite in ultra-agpaitic syenite pegmatites in a differentiated alkalic massif (Lovozero massif, Russia). If you start seeing lorenzenite, nepheline, sodalite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: prismatic crystals. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.

Common questions

How do you identify lintisite?+

Mohs hardness is 5-6. Luster: vitreous on fractures, pearly on cleavages. The streak is white. Common colors include colorless, light yellow.

Where is lintisite found?+

Notable localities include Mt. Alluaiv, Lovozero massif, Kola Peninsula, Russia; Mont Saint-Hilaire, Quebec, Canada.

What rocks look like lintisite?+

Lintisite is most often confused with Labuntsovite, Nenadkevichite. A quick hardness test and a streak check separate the look-alikes faster than color alone.

What minerals are found with lintisite?+

Lintisite commonly co-occurs with Lorenzenite, Nepheline, Sodalite, Potassic feldspar, Arfvedsonite, Aegirine. Spotting any of these in float or country rock is a useful trip signal.

What kind of rock does lintisite form in?+

Where it forms: Coating and replacing lorenzenite in ultra-agpaitic syenite pegmatites in a differentiated alkalic massif (Lovozero massif, Russia). Working float back to the host body is the standard way to chase a fresh occurrence.

What is lintisite used for?+

Lintisite is used in collector.

Find lintisite on the map

RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.